An Inspection Guide For Heavy Equipment

Ask anyone who’s owned heavy equipment for a while and they’ll tell you that one very important part of caring for your machine is to inspect it regularly. The operator should check all the basic functions to ensure they’ll perform safely and efficiently. Even heavy equipment needs some TLC to keep performing to the best of its ability.

To help you take good care of your heavy equipment, we at RECO Equipment have compiled this guide. If you need additional help, visit one of our locations in Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania. We also have a wide selection of quality heavy equipment for sale and expert staff who’ll be happy to help you make your final choice. 

First Things First

Before you take anyone else’s advice about how to handle your heavy equipment, make sure you go through the owner’s manual carefully. With this, you’ll know if there are any specific steps you have to take for your particular model. Most of the time, there are a whole lot of similarities in the care of different heavy machines, but sometimes an essential detail can make a big difference.

Daily Inspection

If you’re using your machine daily, inspect it every day. If not, then inspect it before each use. Make sure it’s ready for the work before you begin. If you work with heavy equipment on a professional basis, then know daily inspections are part of OSHA requirements. Involve equipment managers and supervisors, primary operators, and anyone else who can contribute to this process or benefit from it.

Safety

There’s no doubt that efficiency is a priority on any work site but it comes second to safety. To ensure operator and worker safety, keep the machine up to code. If you have any doubts about the safety, you have to halt work with that particular model until your concerns are addressed. Some key areas that might affect safety include:

Brakes

Coupling devices

Seat belts

Parking system

Safety devices

Steering mechanism

Your Checklist

You should create a checklist of the things you want to keep an eye on when it comes to your heavy equipment. Apart from some details that will be specific to your model, the following should be on your list:

Tires/Undercarriage: It doesn’t matter if your machine has tires or tracks, you want to make sure that it isn’t excessively worn or damaged. 

Engine: All fluids and fluid levels need to be checked, from hydraulic oil to exhaust fluid to coolant. Clean out any grime and replace any filters that are too damaged. 

Leaking Fluid: You can simply keep an eye open for any pools of liquid collecting under the heavy equipment. Fix the problem before it becomes too much to handle. 

Frame: Look for structural damage, dents and scratches, no matter how big or small they may be.

Arms: Make sure the arms are greased properly so they can get to work once you start the engine. 

Attachments: Whatever attachment you’re using for the day, make sure it’s in good working condition as well. This not only improves efficiency, but also prevents damage to your bigger pieces of equipment.

Operator Tools: Inspect and fix all features like mirrors, cab features and technologies that assist the operator in doing their job.

Once you start taking care of your heavy equipment, you’ll easily adjust your checklist to suit your particular machine. If you need more information, visit RECO Equipment at one of our locations in Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania. We also have a wide selection of heavy equipment for sale, along with service and financing options that are greatly appreciated by our patrons.